Author: Stacey at myjigsawjournal

Kuala Lumpur

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles6 Comments

Kuala Lumpur by Harimao Lee – Blanc Puzzles (Buffalo) – 300 pieces

There was something about this image that I couldn’t pass up, even though photographic puzzles aren’t usually my taste. Thankfully it was as much fun as I thought it would be and the assembly was truly entertaining.

Blanc Puzzles are very good quality, though this was a bit different than the previous puzzle by this brand that I assembled. The box was different (no clamshell lid or magnetic clasp) and the backing was different (no artist signature or brand name printed on the backing paper). Otherwise it seemed to be the same quality of chipboard, pieces, image reproduction, and fit.

There isn’t much that need focusing in on with this image, so I documented the assembly instead…

It wasn’t as challenging as I thought it would be, but in the end that was a good thing for me. Getting ready for our vacation was foremost in my mind, and it was nice to have an easy puzzle that didn’t require too much brain power.

I enjoyed this puzzle and it’s quality very much.💜

Summer Books In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling6 Comments

Vintage Summer Books by Aimee Stewart – Buffalo – 1000 pieces

Once again I’m working on a puzzle with an image by Aimee Stewart, and I can’t seem to keep myself away from it! It’s too much fun, and it keeps calling me back. 😊

This picture is only one small bit of the puzzle, because the only way to get a good picture of the whole thing without glare from the lights is to stand the board against the wall the way I do when I finish a puzzle. Taking off all my trays and containers of pieces wasn’t something I felt like doing this morning, so you just get to see one corner. I would apologize, but…I don’t want to.

Finishing up the sorting yesterday I kept having an argument with myself about whether or not this was the puzzle to assemble next. Watching all the pieces line up on the trays, seeing all those flowers and all that greenery – I kept thinking that it’ll be too difficult and maybe I should do something else. As you can see I decided to keep going (or I couldn’t decide whether or not to stop and got caught in a loop of indecision). 🤷‍♀️

There have been one or two puzzles with Aimee’s artwork that were full of flowers and vines and lots of green things; they were the most challenging puzzles of hers that I’ve done. It looks like this one might get difficult once all the books are done, but for now I’m REALLY enjoying myself!

What are you working on? Any fantastic images that I might want to see? Do tell!

1960s Flower Power

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles4 Comments

1960s Flower Power by Andrew Farley – Wentworth – 250 pieces

This beauty was a fantastic puzzle that I enjoyed from the first piece to the last – even with all the chaos on my board! There was something very soothing about the way I assembled this one, thank goodness I listened to myself and did things so contrary to the way I normally puzzle.

When I started puzzling again after my extended break I went a LITTLE crazy and ordered many, many wooden puzzles, including quite a few 250 piece puzzles from Wentworth. For me it’s the perfect size for one of their wooden puzzles – not too overwhelming, not so small that it’s over too soon – it’s Goldilocks baby….just right! 👱‍♀️ The quality is excellent, and even with a “normal” cut rather than a Victorian one the assembly is challenging and satisfying.

I absolutely love these whimsies! They even got that funky 60s font for the letters just right and made sure that Ms. Thing on the right had on some big ‘ol bellbottoms. Yikes. It really was one of the worst decades for fashion if you ask me. 🤮

I mean, look at the fabric of this tote bag – hideous! So many fabrics, patterns, and clothes were unflattering or just plain ugly. I still remember taking my mother to task when we would look at old family photos; I would say “Mom, how could you have dressed me like that? That is so ugly!” Her response was always the same, “It was the style, that’s what was in fashion.” Thank goodness the fashion of the 60s has passed us by – and here’s hoping it’s NOT one of those trends that comes back around again.

It’s been almost six years since I’ve assembled a puzzle with artwork by Andrew Farley, and this image is very different than that previous one – African Splendor. The colors in this image, and the way it’s put together reminds me of Aimee Stewart’s art; perhaps that’s why I love it so much. 💗

Great quality puzzle, beautiful artwork, and a chaotic assembly that I adored. There’s not much more to for a puzzle geek to ask for.

Alice

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles6 Comments

Alice by Romi Lerda – Magnolia Puzzles – 1000 pieces

There’s just something about this artwork – Alice’s face – just something I can’t put my finger on…I love it! Luckily the artist is working with a puzzle company that has excellent quality, so the result is this gorgeous puzzle of a high caliber that I adored assembling.

This was my first Magnolia Puzzle (thanks again Penny for the lend), and I was duly impressed. The chipboard is a good thickness, the fit is exquisite, there are a very good variety of piece shapes, and the image reproduction is stunning with a matte finish that makes for easier puzzling under artificial lights and has a soft, almost silky feeling in your hands. Overall I was extremely pleased with the quality and am looking forward to being able to assemble more of these puzzles.

Because there really isn’t much in this image that needs zooming in on I decided to document my progress as I went…

Starting on the left, that was the result of the first day’s work, including the sorting and laying out on trays. Everything shown completed in that first picture are the sections that I pulled out while laying out the pieces.

It was slow going at times, I was enjoying the silky feel of the pieces and just let the puzzle take me where it wanted to go. In the middle picture I had just finished assembling everything I could find with stripes on it, and it’s filling out nicely.

The last picture is after putting together all of the dark, blue, and most of the gray pieces. The one eye staring out of the image seemed a little creepy at times, but it was still a fantastic assembly that I absolutely loved.

Magnolia Puzzles is based in Turkey, and they are manufactured there as well. They’re on the pricey side, but they’re worth it in my book. I’m not sure I’ll be making a huge purchase from them any time soon, but I would never hesitate to buy one of their puzzles if it struck my fancy – they are beautifully made!

Garden Study In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling2 Comments

Garden Study of the Vickers Children by John Singer Sargent – Laurel Ink – 500 pieces

I finished sorting and started assembling this thrift store purchase yesterday, and made very good progress if I do say so myself. Fine Art puzzle images can be notoriously difficult to assemble, and this one is no different – but for some reason this one seems more enjoyable than others I’ve done.

The only pieces that are left now are shades and shapes of green, so they have all been sorted by shape and then we’re off to the races. Wish me luck!